The MeatEater Podcast

Ep. 794: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CXCI

Release Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Spencer Newharth
Guests: Randall (solo competitor), Hansi, Alex, Roman, Chili (Team Jabronis)
Game Format: 10 rounds of outdoor-focused trivia
Prize: $500 donated to a conservation organization of the winners’ choice

Episode Overview

This episode is a lively round of the recurring "MeatEater Trivia," a game show-style contest where knowledge of hunting, fishing, nature, and conservation is put to the test. Host Spencer Newharth presides over a match-up of Randall vs. “the Jabronis” (Hansi, Alex, Roman, Chili). As always, humor and friendly trash-talk abound, all in the spirit of supporting conservation. At stake: MeatEater will donate $500 to the charity chosen by the winning team.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Banter and Setup (02:00–05:14)

• Spencer introduces the rules: 10 questions, four categories (hunting, fishing, conservation, cooking), $500 prize donated to the winner’s chosen organization.
• The match is Randall solo against the combined brains of four “Jabronis.”
• Some pre-game banter sets the tone:
  • Randall: “I feel pretty good. I always feel pretty good coming in here. It's less exciting when it's a jabroni game …the deck is stacked against me.” (02:51)
  • The group debates who will be captain; Alex hesitantly takes the whiteboard.

Round-by-Round Trivia Highlights

Q1 — Conservation

Question: Doug Burgum, the current Secretary of the Interior, is the former governor of which state?
Answers: Both Randall and the Jabronis choose North Dakota.

• Correct: North Dakota
• Context: Burgum served as governor 2016–2024, was Trump’s advisor on energy, now oversees 480M acres.
• Memorable Moment: Alex’s certainty — “I'm like 98% positive... North Dakota.” (06:11)

Q2 — Cooking

Question: Seven-letter Japanese delicacy of raw sliced fish or meat.
Answers: Both teams quickly answer “sashimi.”

• Discussion: Hansi explains the "wipe" method for soy sauce, copying sushi chefs, not dunking.
  • Hansi: “I think I've come to the understanding that, like, a slight wipe with soy sauce is [better]... you want to taste the fish.” (08:44)
  • Spencer: “How do you do a wipe of soy sauce?” (08:56)
  • Hansi: “Just take your finger and dunk it in... that’s what I see the omakase chefs do.”

Q3 — Wildlife (09:22)

Question: On which show did a contestant get peed on for a sea urchin sting in 2002?
Answers: Both sides guess Survivor; correct.

• Fun Banter:
  • “Wasn't Baywatch out then? ...Sea urchin, pissing on somebody, they watch.” — Alex (10:13)
  • “The sea urchin isn’t pissing...” — Randall (10:22)
  • Spencer shares the real incident from Survivor Season 4, debunking the urine-as-remedy myth.

Q4 — Hunting (14:03)

Question: Alpo, Beggin, Dental Life, Busy Bone, and Dog Chow are brands owned by which company?
Answers: Randall says Iams; Jabronis say Milk Bone; correct answer is Purina—both miss it.

• Post-mortem:
  • “As soon as I said it, I knew I was wrong.” — Randall (17:37)
  • Spencer notes that Purina is a Nestlé subsidiary, one of their most profitable divisions.

Q5 — Woodsmanship (18:32)

Question: Word for partly decayed organic matter on the forest floor & a famous fictional beer.
Answers: Both answer Duff (correct).

• “Duff? Yeah, as in ... Duff beer from the Simpsons and then pine needle Duff.” — Hansi (18:37)
• Duff is vital for soil; Simpsons named their beer after this “synonym for butt.”

Halftime Score (19:56–20:10)

• Score: Tied, 4–4

Q6 — Wildlife (24:27)

Question: In which state is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the only aquarium to display great white sharks?
Answer: California (both correct).

• Discussion of why great whites rarely survive in captivity and a humorous aside from Randall about Flight of the Conchords and misunderstanding his laughter about sharks bumping into tanks (25:49).

Q7 — Fishing (27:30)

Question: Which annual creates a fishing calendar based on moon and zodiac, ending after 2026?
Answer: Jabronis—Farmer’s Almanac (correct); Randall—Sportsman’s Almanac (incorrect).

• “Take advantage of Randall getting that one wrong…” — Spencer (28:50)
• Farmer’s Almanac will publish its final issue after 208 years, only 7 “best” fishing days left.

Q8 — Conservation (31:03)

Question: Name ONE of the three countries with the highest population of African elephants.
Answer: Both guess Kenya (incorrect); correct answers: Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.

• Spencer: “So Hansi again had one of them... Zimbabwe.”

Q9 — Hunting (33:58)

Question: What type of “nose” do some mature bucks have, as described by Penn State?
Answer: Both answer “Roman nose” (correct).

• Spencer notes the “science is shaky at best” behind this theory.

Q10 — Ecology (36:26)

Listener question: Eight-letter well that brings groundwater to the surface without pumping.
Answer: Both answer “artesian” (correct).

• Hansi relates it to his Aunt Ruthie, the “walleye queen,” whose property had an artesian well. (37:47–38:08)
• Memorable quote:
  • Hansi: “She had an artesian well on her property, which I believe is what this is.... She was known as the walleye queen of Indian river in northern Michigan. She was a badass.” (37:43)

Final Score & Outcome

• Final Score: Jabronis 8, Randall 7
• Prize: $500 donated to Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA)
  • “I think BHA is a great idea … they're doing a heck of a lot of work right now.” — Hansi (39:33)
• Randall lamenting his missed answers: “It's just dumb, you know? Just dumb. Purina. Farmer's Almanac. Kenya. ...Now whenever I go to the grocery store and ...pet food aisle, I'm going to look at a bag of Purina and I'm going to think about losing today.” (40:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The deck is stacked against me.” — Randall (02:51)
• “As soon as I said it, I knew I was wrong.” — Randall (17:37, after the Purina question)
• “I like to just play the old-fashioned way—mano e mano e mano e mano e mano.” — Randall (03:07)
• “Duff is a beer for people who sit on their fat ass all day.” — Spencer (19:17, quoting The Simpsons writers)
• “She had an artesian well on her property … walleye queen of Indian river in northern Michigan. She was a badass.” — Hansi (37:43)
• “So is the Sportsman's Almanac a real thing?” — Hansi (28:54)
• “Take advantage of Randall getting that one wrong...” — Spencer (28:50)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening/Rules Setup: 02:00–05:14
• Q1: Secretary of the Interior State — 06:13
• Q2: Japanese Raw Delicacy — 07:46
• Q3: Survivor/Sea Urchin Incident — 09:22–13:16
• Q4: Dog Food Brands — 14:03–17:37
• Q5: Duff (Forest & Beer) — 18:34–19:56
• Halftime/Scoreboard: 19:56–20:10
• Q6: Monterey Bay Great White — 24:27–25:49
• Q7: Fishing Almanac — 27:30–28:49
• Q8: African Elephant Population — 31:03–33:29
• Q9: Roman Nose — 33:58–34:56
• Q10: Artesian Well — 36:26–39:08

Tone and Style

The episode is fast-paced, humorous, and full of friendly ribbing. All speakers engage in good-natured trash talk and playful teasing, especially regarding uncertain answers and missed points. The focus on outdoor trivia maintains a serious respect for the subjects of hunting, conservation, and the natural world, but with “irreverence and things that will surprise the hell out of you,” as promised.

Summary

MeatEater Trivia CXCI delivers engaging, competitive trivia with a conservation cause at its heart. This episode is a close contest decided by teamwork and quick thinking, with the Jabronis pulling out a narrow victory over the seasoned soloist Randall. Along the way, listeners are treated to rich discussions of outdoor lore, animal biology, food, and pop culture, making this a fun and enriching listen for outdoors enthusiasts and trivia fans alike.